Water Plant Operator

About the Water Plant

The Lakewood Water Treatment Plant is responsible for treating and distributing the City of Duluth’s drinking water, sourced from Lake Superior. This facility plays a critical role in maintaining public health and meeting regulatory standards. Operators are essential to the day-to-day monitoring, operation, and maintenance of this system.

To maintain the safeand efficient operation of the City’s Water Treatment Plant and Water Supply System, including stations, towers, and reservoirs, in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Employees at the Water Plant Operator level are distinguished from the Senior Water Plant Operator level by possessing a Minnesota Class "C" or "D" Water Supply System Operator’s certification. They are certified by the MDH, possess the knowledge needed to perform duties as assigned, and are expected to function with the highest amount of plant and system knowledge.
The level exercises independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods.

The supervisor makes assignments by defining objectives, priorities, and deadlines and assists incumbents with unusual situations that do not have clear precedents. Incumbents plan and carry out the successive steps, handle problems and deviations in the work assignment in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training, or accepted practices in the occupation.

Does not have direct supervisory responsibility but does have significant oversight of employees or projects that require delegation and direction over the work of others.

• 1. Complete regular rounds and inspections of all Water Division facilities to ensure proper operations and functioning of process equipment and security of all buildings and stations, including monitoring in extreme weather conditions such as high winds, lightning, blizzards, extreme cold, and stormy conditions.
• 2. Control the volume and pressure of raw, intermediate, backwash filters, and treated water to the appropriate points within the water system by monitoring and operating pumps and valves in order to meet the demand for finished water.
• 3. Control coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, fluoridation, and disinfection in the treatment process to meet all applicable standards for potable water treatment.
• 4. Provide safe, high quality water in adequate supply to meet health and sanitary needs of customers, and conduct laboratory testing and monitoring of the treatment plant process to ensure requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act are met.
• 5. Operate second, third, weekend, and holiday shifts without supervision, and make decisions and maintain equipment and processes used in treating and delivering water to produce potable water in accordance with all applicable standards.
• 6. Prioritize and process information pertaining to emergency maintenance needs by coordinating personnel and equipment to worksites.
• 7. Make initial assessments of an emergency and determine degree of danger, damage, urgency, and inconvenience involved.
• 8. Provide direction and assistance to others involved in operational and project problem solving.
• 9. Troubleshoot and correct abnormal operating conditions in emergencies, and make split‑second decisions without supervision in mechanical process, instrumentation, electrical, equipment, and call out appropriate personnel to repair.
• 10. Assist with the delivery of hazardous chemicals received at the treatment facility.
• 11. Record, update, and log all pertinent data and information in regard to operation, monitoring, dosages, chemicals, and records for the operations, towers, stations, and reservoirs.
• 12. Collaborate with other individuals, within and without the City, to conduct regular repairs, upgrades, services, and emergency repairs that affect operations.
• 13. Maintain the plant operations 24/7/365, including operating 12‑hour shifts, holidays, and weekends.
• 14. Be available in emergency situations, shift substitutions, to assist in operations of the treatment plant or system.
• 15. Coordinate repairs to plant,…